scholarly journals Indignation for moral violations suppresses the tongue motor cortex: preliminary TMS evidence

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carmelo M Vicario ◽  
Robert D Rafal ◽  
Giuseppe di Pellegrino ◽  
Chiara Lucifora ◽  
Mohammad A Salehinejad ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Facial Expressions ◽  
Magnetic Stimulation ◽  
Motor Evoked Potentials ◽  
Primary Motor Area ◽  
Moral Indignation ◽  
Moral Category ◽  
Oral Control ◽  
Moral Transgressions ◽  
Variable Influence ◽  
Healthy Participants

Abstract We commonly label moral violations in terms of ‘disgust’, yet it remains unclear whether metaphorical expressions linking disgust and morality are genuinely shared at the cognitive/neural level. Using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), we provide new insights into this debate by measuring motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) from the tongue generated by TMS over the tongue primary motor area (tM1) in a small group of healthy participants presented with vignettes of moral transgressions and non-moral vignettes. We tested whether moral indignation, felt while evaluating moral vignettes, affected tM1 excitability. Vignettes exerted a variable influence on MEPs with no net effect of the moral category. However, in accordance with our recent study documenting reduced tM1 excitability during exposure to pictures of disgusting foods or facial expressions of distaste, we found that the vignettes of highly disapproved moral violations reduced tM1 excitability. Moreover, tM1 excitability and moral indignation were linearly correlated: the higher the moral indignation, the lower the tM1 excitability. Respective changes in MEPs were not observed in a non-oral control muscle, suggesting a selective decrease of tM1 excitability. These preliminary findings provide neurophysiological evidence supporting the hypothesis that morality might have originated from the more primitive experience of oral distaste.

scholarly journals Reliability of diaphragmatic motor-evoked potentials induced by transcranial magnetic stimulation

2020 ◽  
Vol 129 (6) ◽  
pp. 1393-1404
Author(s):  
Joseph F. Welch ◽  
Patrick J. Argento ◽  
Gordon S. Mitchell ◽  
Emily J. Fox
Keyword(s):  
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation ◽  
Evoked Potentials ◽  
Magnetic Stimulation ◽  
Motor Evoked Potentials ◽  
Surface Emg ◽  
Noninvasive Technique ◽  
Large Variability ◽  
Adult Men ◽  
Latency Duration ◽  
Excellent Reproducibility

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a noninvasive technique to assess neural impulse conduction along the cortico-diaphragmatic pathway. The reliability of diaphragm motor-evoked potentials (MEP) induced by TMS is unknown. Notwithstanding large variability in MEP amplitude, we found good-to-excellent reproducibility of all MEP characteristics (latency, duration, amplitude, and area) both within- and between-day in healthy adult men and women. Our findings support the use of TMS and surface EMG to assess diaphragm activation in humans.

scholarly journals Effect of opposing needling on motor cortex excitability in healthy participants and in patients with post-stroke hemiplegia: study protocol for a single-blind, randomised controlled trial

Trials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mindong Xu ◽  
Yinyu Zi ◽  
Jianlu Wu ◽  
Nenggui Xu ◽  
Liming Lu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Motor Cortex ◽  
Primary Motor Cortex ◽  
Motor Evoked Potentials ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Secondary Outcome ◽  
Post Stroke ◽  
Motor Cortex Excitability ◽  
Opposing Needling ◽  
Single Blind ◽  
Healthy Participants

Abstract Background Opposing needling has an obvious curative effect in the treatment of post-stroke hemiplegia; however, the mechanism of the opposing needling in the treatment of post-stroke hemiplegia is still not clear. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of opposing needling on the excitability of primary motor cortex (M1) of healthy participants and patients with post-stroke hemiplegia, which may provide insight into the mechanisms of opposing needling in treating post-stroke hemiplegia. Methods This will be a single-blind, randomised, sham-controlled trial in which 80 healthy participants and 40 patients with post-stroke hemiplegia will be recruited. Healthy participants will be randomised 1:1:1:1 to the 2-Hz, 50-Hz, 100-Hz, and sham electroacupuncture groups. Patients with post-stroke hemiplegia will be randomised 1:1 to the opposing needling or conventional treatment groups. The M1 will be located in all groups by using neuroimaging-based navigation. The stimulator coil of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) will be moved over the left and right M1 in order to identify the TMS hotspot, followed by a recording of resting motor thresholds (RMTs) and motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) of the thenar muscles induced by TMS before and after the intervention. The primary outcome measure will be the percent change in the RMTs of the thenar muscles at baseline and after the intervention. The secondary outcome measures will be the amplitude (μV) and latency (ms) of the MEPs of the thenar muscles at baseline and after the intervention. Discussion The aim of this trial is to explore the effect of opposing needling on the excitability of M1 of healthy participants and patients with post-stroke hemiplegia. Trial registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR1900028138. Registered on 13 December 2019.

scholarly journals Intracortical and Intercortical Motor Disinhibition to Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Newly Diagnosed Celiac Disease Patients

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 1530
Author(s):  
Francesco Fisicaro ◽  
Giuseppe Lanza ◽  
Carmela Cinzia D’Agate ◽  
Raffaele Ferri ◽  
Mariagiovanna Cantone ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Celiac Disease ◽  
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation ◽  
Magnetic Stimulation ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Motor Evoked Potentials ◽  
Silent Period ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Transcallosal Inhibition ◽  
Resting Motor Threshold

Background: Celiac disease (CD) may present or be complicated by neurological and neuropsychiatric manifestations. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) probes brain excitability non-invasively, also preclinically. We previously demonstrated an intracortical motor disinhibition and hyperfacilitation in de novo CD patients, which revert back after a long-term gluten-free diet (GFD). In this cross-sectional study, we explored the interhemispheric excitability by transcallosal inhibition, which has never been investigated in CD. Methods: A total of 15 right-handed de novo, neurologically asymptomatic, CD patients and 15 age-matched healthy controls were screened for cognitive and depressive symptoms to the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), respectively. TMS consisted of resting motor threshold, amplitude, latency, and duration of the motor evoked potentials, duration and latency of the contralateral silent period (cSP). Transcallosal inhibition was evaluated as duration and latency of the ipsilateral silent period (iSP). Results: MoCA and HDRS scored significantly worse in patients. The iSP and cSP were significantly shorter in duration in patients, with a positive correlation between the MoCA and iSP. Conclusions: An intracortical and interhemispheric motor disinhibition was observed in CD, suggesting the involvement of GABA-mediated cortical and callosal circuitries. Further studies correlating clinical, TMS, and neuroimaging data are needed.

Increased corticospinal excitability prior to arm cycling is due to enhanced supraspinal but not spinal motoneurone excitability

2013 ◽  
Vol 38 (11) ◽  
pp. 1154-1161 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin E. Power ◽  
David B. Copithorne
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Stimulation ◽  
Corticospinal Tract ◽  
Biceps Brachii ◽  
Motor Evoked Potentials ◽  
Corticospinal Excitability ◽  
Quiescent State ◽  
M Wave ◽  
Arm Cycling ◽  
Intention To Move ◽  
Stimulation Of

Human studies have not assessed supraspinal or spinal motoneurone excitability in the quiescent state prior to a rhythmic and alternating cyclical motor output. The purpose of the current study was to determine whether supraspinal and (or) spinal motoneurone excitability was modulated in humans prior to arm cycling when compared with rest with no intention to move. We hypothesized that corticospinal excitability would be enhanced prior to arm cycling due, in part, to increased spinal motoneurone excitability. Supraspinal and spinal motoneurone excitability were assessed via transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) of the motor cortex and transmastoid stimulation of the corticospinal tract, respectively. Surface electromyography recordings of TMS motor evoked potentials (MEPs) and cervicomedullary MEPs (CMEPs) were made from the relaxed biceps brachii muscle prior to rhythmic arm cycling and at rest with no intention to move. The amplitude of the MEPs was greater (mean increase: +9.8% of maximal M wave; p = 0.006) and their onset latencies were shorter (mean decrease: –1.5 ms; p < 0.05) prior to cycling when compared with rest. The amplitudes of the CMEPs at any of 3 stimulation intensities were not different between conditions. We conclude that premovement enhancement of corticospinal excitability is greater prior to arm cycling than at rest because of increases in supraspinal but not spinal motoneurone excitability.

scholarly journals Hand Motor Recovery after Stroke: A Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Mapping Study of Motor Output Areas and Their Relation to Functional Status

2002 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 275-282 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric P. Bastings ◽  
Jason P. Greenberg ◽  
David C. Good
Keyword(s):  
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation ◽  
Surface Area ◽  
Magnetic Stimulation ◽  
Motor Evoked Potentials ◽  
Motor Recovery ◽  
Motor Output ◽  
Motor Abilities ◽  
Cortical Motor ◽  
Motor Outcome ◽  
Large Motor

The respective contributions of the stroke and undamaged hemispheres to motor recovery after stroke remains controversial. The aim of this article is to evaluate the relationship between location and size of cortical motor areas and outcome after stroke. Twelve controls and 12 stroke patients were studied. Hand cortical motor output areas were determined using transcranial magnetic stimulation. Motor-evoked potentials were recorded simultaneously from both hands. Functional motor abilities were evaluated using well-validated measures. Surface area, weighted surface area, and center of gravity of motor output areas were calculated. Different patterns of motor output areas to the paretic hand were observed; there was no motor output from the stroke hemisphere in patients with poor outcome, contrasting to large motor output area in the stroke hemisphere in patients with good outcome, regardless of infarct size or location. A significant correlation was found between measures of motor outcome in the stroke-affected upper extremity and both the surface area and weight of the central motor output area in the stroke hemisphere. No ipsilateral motor response was obtained after stimulation of either hemisphere. These data support an association between preservation of cortical motor output area to the paretic hand in the stroke hemisphere and good motor outcome.

Motor evoked potentials to magnetic stimulation: technical considerations and normative data from 50 subjects

1992 ◽  
Vol 239 (3) ◽  
pp. 152-156 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Furby ◽  
J. L. Bourriez ◽  
J. M. Jacquesson ◽  
F. Mounier-Vehier ◽  
J. D. Guieu
Keyword(s):  
Evoked Potentials ◽  
Magnetic Stimulation ◽  
Normative Data ◽  
Motor Evoked Potentials ◽  
Technical Considerations
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